Coffee and Other Pregnancy Scares

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I have three healthy children between 6 lbs 13 0z and 8 lbs even. I pay for good medical advice and services, but I am responsible for those children.
Over the years, medical practices have changed dramatically. Birth is a natural process and is often managed as a srious medical event. Pregnancy is a natural state, not necessarily a disability.
Child 1 came at a time when women were asserting their rights. I was strongly advised to drop out of college, and it was legal to fire a woman for being pregnant - for her own good. Despite my "disability", I managed a 4.0 average at Yale while pregnant missing just one class. I lied to keep my job and ended up out of work for just 2 months. I gained 12 pounds and was surrounded by medical experst for what they thought would be a very small child. A 7 pound perfectly healthy child was born. I wanted to leave the hospital quickly, abd that required a lot of insistence on my part as the practice was to keep women for 2 - 3 days.
To regain a youthful body, I began to run. When I became pregnant with child 2, many advised that I quit running. There was no real research on exercise and effects on children. Fortunately, my doctor and I agreed to continue an active lifestyle and be carfeul about overheating or joint issues. I ran competitevely and comfortably up to the day I delivered a 6 LB 13 OZ child. We limited alcohol to an occasional socail glass of wine. Caffeine was reduced, but not quite eliminated. This was the natural childbirth era, and I got to make many small decisions and leave the hospital when I wanted, in a few hours.
Child 3 was born in a medically intensive era. I had to consistently turn down services that were designed for defensive medicine. I only agreed to one ultrasound, and that was before a climbing trip. I climbed the Grand Teton at 3 months pregnant, carrying my own 70 lb load to high camp. We adjusted our plan to reamin in areas that had emergency communications available and were more accessible. There was no research available on the effects of high altitude on pregnancy. In this era, continuing exercise patterns was deemed OK by the medical professionals. I ran and skied up to the day I delivered my third healthy child, 8 lbs at the "advanced" age of 35.
I see too many women behaving passively and not taking charge of their care. The medical profession needs to back its recommendations with evidence. Too many past practices have been discredited. It is irresponsilbe to scare, overmedicate, overtest, and overtreat a natural human process.

Leslie of WA 2:49PM November 25, 2009

I gave birth to 3 healthy babies in the late sixties and early seventies. I gained 33-35 lbs each time and my babies weighed between 7 1/2 and 8 lbs. Even the smell of coffee nauseated me, but I did drink at least 4 whopping glasses of iced tea a day and ate all the chocolate I wanted. I also took Bendectin (no longer available because studies "showed" it was linked to birth defects) for nausea and Drixoral (2 a day)for allergies. I didn't drink or smoke. My children are in their 30s and 40s now, and still very healthy. My daughter and daughter-in-law were very careful about what they ate and what drugs they took during pregnancy. Their children also weighed in the 7 1/2 to 8 lb range and were healthy. Who knows what to believe, but I believe reasonable precautions are probably the best answer.

Katherine of NC 10:38AM November 25, 2009

i just found aout last week that i was expecting, im aproximately 1 1/2 months. I am a starbucks addict, but as soon i found out, i stop drinkin coffee, i think if a woman loves her baby, they should start following their doctor's directions and feel confident that in a few months with patience, they' ll be happy of having such wonderful and healthy babies.

anabel of TX 11:54PM September 16, 2009

First of all, remember doctors are always changing their minds. I am all for a healthy diet but NOT for scaring pregnant mommies! I drank coffee and ate all the chocolate I wanted while I was pregnant with my three boys. They were all OVERweight- none under 9 lbs. None struggle with their weight nowor has diabetes (even right after birth their sugar levels were all good), and only one has mild asthma (I believe inherited from hubby!) My daugher was only 6 lbs at birth yet she struggles with her weight and asthma. I think these doctors are putting too much emphasis on nutrition and not enough on genetics, heredity, and environment. So many other factors affect these illnesses (asthma, diabetes, allergies, weight gain) that you can't really say it is the diet of the mother that alone takes precedent.
Relax. Enjoy life. It is so precious and let yourself thrill at the thought of holding that precious new baby in your arms. The positive endorphins alone should counteract some of that bad chocolate! :)
Blessings,
mel

mel from www.homeschoolblogger.com/mtnmamaof4 of WI 10:53AM February 07, 2009

I had my daughter 18 years ago before all of this advise started. However even back then my midwife advised i reduce my coffee/tea consumption and eat a balanced diet, nowhere in there did she say not to eat the enormous amounts of chocolate that my body craved :-) (which also contains caffeine)
My daughter was a healthy 10lb 2oz's at birth. and has been healthy throughout, and I consumed coffee daily throughout, i did reduce the strength and had more milk in it, and found this to be a happy compromise. I did give up alcohol and smoking completely and made sure i had plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in my diet, which i believe to be the best advise i received from the medical background.
I think with all this advise you have to consider all the information and not allow it to panic you and ensure you talk to your own doctor, pregnancy is a time to enjoy and so many medical professionals release information with little research that causes concern f and does not seem to consider the emotional welfare of these mums to be.

Sharron 8:15AM November 25, 2008